Portable device

ABSTRACT

A portable device for creating decorative spatial effects in homes or the like. One or more elongated strips with rotatably attached U-shaped clips in longitudinal spaced relationship is provided. By stringing cord continuously from clips in one strip to clips in another strip which is spaced apart, an inexpensive and visually aesthetic room divider can be developed.

United States Patent McLaughlin, Jr. Oct. 23, 1973 1 PORTABLE DEVICE643,737 2/1900 Adams..... 160/327 x 319,057 6/1885 Bickley 256/21 UX[76] lnvenm" MLaughlim 5546 377,444 2/1888 Watrous... 47 47 xKaren-Blame New Carrollmn, 2,987,299 6/1961 Kneen 256/32 x Md. 20784[22] Filed: Apr. 11, 1972 Primary ExaminerMervin Stein AssistantExaminer-Philip C. Kannan [21] App! 243364 Att0rney-Herbert Cohen [52]US. Cl 160/405, 160/327, 161/7 TRAC [51] Int. Cl A47g 5/00 [57] ABS T[58] Field of Search 160/405, 383, 382, A Portable device for creatingdecorative Spatial 160/391, 371, 332, 399, 327, 328, 329, 400, facts inhomes or the like. One or more elongated 351 1 17 25 32 33 34 24; 47 454 strips with rotatably attached U-shaped clips in longi- 47; 31 7 2 4 2tudinal spaced relationship is provided. By stringing cord continuouslyfrom clips in one strip to clips in an- 56] R f r Cited other stripwhich is spaced apart, an inexpensive and visually aesthetic roomdivider can be developed.

4 Claims, 5 Drawing Figures PORTABLE DEVICE BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION:

1. Field of the Invention This invention relates generally to portabledevices useful in decorating rooms and the like.

2. Description of the Prior Art The art is replete with devices designedfor use as room dividers, wall panels or as space filling decorations.One well known device is the conventional room divider screen mountedbetween a pair of upstanding poles. Such dividers can be formed ofhinged sections to provide a dressing or undressing area. Alternatively,a plurality of screens can be permanently joined together to subdivide alarge space into one or more smaller spaces. Decorative panelscomprising fllligreed members, hand painted members or the like are alsoused in connection with the aforesaid screens.

The aforesaid devices are also generally portable. However, even whendisassembled to its smallest dimension the devices are relatively large,e.g., 12-24 inches wide by 60-84 inches long and are awkward to handle,or transport. Moreover, one generally purchases such devices alreadyfinished which means there is little, if any, creative challenge to thepurchaser other than where to locate the device.

OBJECTS AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION:

It is therefore an object of this invention to provide a portable devicewhich is efficient in design and construction, inexpensive tomanufacture and offers unlimited creative challenge in decorating walls,subdividing space and the like.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a reuseabledecorative device which can be easily assembled and disassembled forshipping purposes.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a decorativedevice which can be supplied in kit form.

These and other objects will be readily apparent from the drawing andthe detailed description which follows.

Briefly, the objects of this invention are achieved by providing anelongated strip member having a plurality of aligned U-shaped clipswhich are spaced apart. The clips are secured to the strip member in amanner which permits rotation of the clips. Means for mounting the stripmember on a wall floor, ceiling, or pole are provided. The clip isdesigned to receive cord or the like at its lower portion. In onepreferred embodiment, namely, as a space divider, a pair of stripmembers are securely mounted vertically in spaced relationship with theclips of one strip member facing inwardly towards the clips of the otherstrip member. Cord is strung from strip member to strip member incontinuous fashion until all of the clips are used. The Z-shaped patterncreated forms an eye-appealing design at a cost which can besurprisingly low.

It will be understood that although the main emphasis of this inventionis directed at space dividers, numerous variations are contemplatedusing the concepts and means disclosed herein.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIGS. 1, 2 and 3, are fragmentaryperspective views illustrating the present invention in variousfinallyassembled positions;

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary exploded view of the elongated strip member withcord disposed in one of the clips; and

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a variation of the clip structureillustrating a restricted opening for hindering removal of the cordplaced in the clip and also anelongated aperture for varying the spacingbetween clips.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS:

Referring now to the drawing, wherein like numerals indicate likeelements throughout the several views, a preferred embodiment of thedevice according to the present invention is generally designated as 10.

In the fragmentary elevational view of FIG. 4 there is illustrated theportable device 10 in a partially exploded representation. Device 10comprises an elongated strip member or standard 12 which carries aplurality of vertically aligned clips 14 adapted to receive a continuouscord 16 in a manner to be described in greater detail hereinafter.

The standard 12 is preferrably formed of a one-piece resilient metalsuch as aluminum or plastic, such as polyvinyl chloride or the like. Acomposite structure comprising an inner metal element 18 with a plasticbacking 20 can also be advantageously employed. The material is notcritical, however, and the standard need only to have sufficientstrength to carry the clips 14 and the stress imposed by the cordtension. The standard 12 should also be flexible enough to conform tocontoured surfaces, if so desired. 'ivlounting apertures 13 are providedat numerous positions in the standard 12.

A plurality of generally U-shaped clips 14 are carried by the standard12 by fasteners 22 projectingthrough communicating openings 24, 26provided in each clip and standard, respectively.

The clip 14 can be formed of metal or plastic and is capable of rotatingabout the securring fastener 22. In this manner, a greater degree offreedom is achieved for creating new designs which appear natural andnot constrained. Moreover, the rotatable clip reduces stressconcentration and/or wear of the cord 16 which rests on the bottom ofthe U portion of the clip 14. To better retain the cord 16 in the clip,the upper end portion 28 of the clip 14 is inwardly bent to constrictthe opening between the legs 30, 32 of the clip 14.

A variation in the clip is shown in FIG. 5. Here clip 14 is providedwith bulbous upper end portion 28' which can be located at either leg30', 32', or both, to constrain the inadvertant removal of thepositioned cord 16. The clip 14' is also sufficiently flexible to enablelegs 30 32' to be opened further than normal. Also provided in the clip14' is an elongated slot 24' for adjusting the linear space betweenadjacent clip members. Generally, however it is preferred to maintainthe clip 14' at substantially equal distances from each other. a

The cord 16 according to the present invention is meant to include rope,string, filaments or the like made of either natural or syntheticmaterial, or a combination thereof. For instance, one highly attractivecombination comprises a colored polypropylene rope with metallic threadsinterwoven with the plastic filaments. Sufficient cord is provided toenable continuous stringing or looping between clips oppositelypositioned (FIG. 1) or between a clip and a single hook (FIGS. 2, 3).

The portable device of the present invention can be utilized inunlimited ways, for example, in FIG. 1 there is illustrated onepreferred embodiment in use, namely, as an area divider. Here, a pair ofstandards 12 spaced 36 inches from each other are separately verticallymounted onto the wall 42 and a wooden post 48. Although the standardsare shown to extend from the ceiling to a point above the floor, it willbe appreciated that the standard could easily be carried to the floorand the planter construction 50 eliminated.

Once the standards 12 are positioned in the manner shown in FIG. 1, thecord 16 is continuously looped from the clip of one standard to itscounterpart clip on the other standard until all of the clips areutilized with the cord forming an eye-pleasing geometric pattern. Theend of the cord could be knotted or brought around the last clip andsecured to itself by crimping ring or similar fastener.

In FIG. 2, an abstract triangular pattern is illustrated which isreadily formed by attaching the standard 12 to the floor 44. An eye hook52 is mounted in the ceiling 54 above the standard 12. The cord 16 iscontinuously looped from clip to hook and back to the next adjacent clipuntil all the clips are utilized. Various decorative objects, plants orthe like could be supported by the resulting form of FIG. 2.

The embodiment shown in FIG. 3 is similar to that shown in FIG. 2 exceptthat the standard 12 is formed to fit adjacent walls 46, 46'. Aninteresting corner treatment is effected by looping the cord 16 througheach standard clip and the hook 56 mounted in the ceilmg.

An important aspect of this invention is in providing the variouscomponents, as described hereinabove, as in a kit form so thatpurchasers having a desire to create interesting decorative andfunctional effects can readily do so at a relatively low cost.

It should be appreciated that the present invention is not to beconstrued as being limited by the illustrative embodiments. It ispossible to produce still other embodiments without departing from theinventive concept herein disclosed. Such embodiments are within theability of one skilled in the art.

What is claimed is: l. A device for creating various wall and spatialeffects, in combination, comprising:

an elongated standard formed of flexible material capable of conformingto planar and contoured surfaces and provided with spaced openings alongthe length thereof for mounting on a supporting surface; said standardincluding a plurality of substantially U- shaped clips rotatably securedto said standard in a predetermined spaced relationship, each clipincluding a pair of flattened, parallel, upstanding legs, the lowerportions of each leg being joined at their lower edges by an arcuateportion for receiving a cord therein, one of said legs having an openingfor receiving means for securing said clip to said standard, the otherleg formed at its upper portion with means for constricting the openingbetween said legs to retain said cord therein; and a cord ofpredetermined thickness movably disposed between said legs of saidU-shaped clip and of pre determined length to permit said cord to becontinuously strung at least through said clips of said standard withspaced apart means for receiving said cord, whereby a predeterminedspatial effect is created.

2. The device of claim 1 wherein said spaced apart means for receivingsaid cord comprises a second standard constructed substantiallyidentical to said first mentioned standard.

3. The device of claim 1 wherein said spaced apart means for receivingsaid cord comprises an eye hook.

4. The device of claim 1 wherein'saidmeans for constricting the openingbetween said leg is integrally formed with said clip and comprises aninwardly directed bent portion extending from the tip of the outer legof said clip.

1. A device for creating various wall and spatial effects, incombination, comprising: an elongated standard formed of flexiblematerial capable of conforming to planar and contoured surfaces andprovided with spaced openings along the length thereof for mounting on asupporting surface; said standard including a plurality of substantiallyU-shaped clips rotatably secured to said standard in a predeterminedspaced relationship, each clip including a pair of flattened, parallel,upstanding legs, the lower portions of each leg being joined at theirlower edges by an arcuate portion for receiving a cord therein, one ofsaid legs having an opening for receiving means for securing said clipto said standard, the other leg formed at its upper portion with meansfor constricting the opening between said legs to retain said cordtherein; and a cord of predetermined thickness movably disposed betweensaid legs of said U-shaped clip and of predetermined length to permitsaid cord to be continuously strung at least through said clips of saidstandard with spaced apart means for receiving said cord, whereby apredetermined spatial effect is created.
 2. The device of claim 1wherein said spaced apart means for receiving said cord comprises asecond standard constructed substantially identical to said firstmentioned standard.
 3. The device of claim 1 wherein said spaced apartmeans for receiving said cord comprises an eye hook.
 4. The device ofclaim 1 wherein said means for constricting the opening between saidlegs is integrally formed with said clip and comprises an inwardlydirected bent portion extending from the tip of the outer leg of saidclip.